Agentic Photonic Design Engineer

Flexcompute Inc. • Watertown, MA

5d • Remote

About The Position

Flexcompute is seeking an Agentic Photonic Design Engineer to join the PhotonForge team. This role focuses on software development at the intersection of photonic design automation, EDA integration, and agentic AI. The engineer will extend the company's end-to-end platform for photonic integrated circuit (PIC) design, utilizing Python and C++ to implement production integrations and AI-native workflows. The PhotonForge platform unifies component simulation, circuit simulation, compact modeling, layout generation, PDK integration, and foundry handoff, powered by Flexcompute's GPU-accelerated Tidy3D solvers. Responsibilities include building EDA tool integrations, developing physics-driven application workflows, and designing agentic tools to enhance the speed and accessibility of photonic design. This is a remote position, with a preference for candidates in the Boston area open to hybrid work.

Requirements

• Software developer first. You write production-quality Python and are comfortable reading, debugging, and contributing to C++ codebases (our platform includes performance-critical native components).
• Hands-on EDA and PIC flow experience. You've worked with industry-standard EDA platforms and photonic design tools and understand real tapeout-oriented workflows: GDSII, DRC, LVS, PDKs, schematic-driven design, and compact models.
• Strong physics or engineering foundation. Degree (MS or PhD preferred) in electrical engineering, applied physics, photonics, or a related field. Working knowledge of Maxwell's equations, waveguide theory, and semiconductor device physics.
• AI-native builder. You actively use AI tools in your own work and are motivated to build agentic automation into engineering products, not just consume off-the-shelf chat interfaces.
• A builder at heart. You'd rather ship a working prototype than write a specification, and you thrive with ownership over problems that span EDA integration, software, and product.

Nice To Haves

• Experience training or fine-tuning ML/AI models (reinforcement learning, surrogate modeling, physics-inspired neural networks, vision-language models, and similar approaches)
• Domain expertise in quantum photonics, RF/microwave photonics, co-packaged optics, or optical interconnects for AI datacenters
• Experience building connectors or plugins for EDA platforms
• Background in compact model generation, S-parameter extraction, or circuit-level photonic simulation
• Experience with agentic AI frameworks, LLM-based automation tools, or AI product development
• Contributions to open-source photonics or EDA tooling

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain integrations between PhotonForge and industry-standard EDA tools for layout, DRC, LVS, and schematic-driven design.
• Enable seamless round-trip workflows between EDA environments, PhotonForge, and Tidy3D simulation.
• Build Python-based APIs and automation scripts that connect PhotonForge to existing toolchains; read, debug, and extend C++ components where integrations touch the core platform.
• Build agentic tools and automation that help engineers set up layout, simulation, and verification with less manual friction.
• Prototype and ship AI-powered features inside PhotonForge and adjacent developer experiences (e.g., scripted flows, assistants, workflow agents).
• Work with end users on real-world design challenges in quantum photonics, RF photonics, co-packaged optics, or silicon photonics.
• Develop application workflows and reference designs across component simulation, circuit simulation, compact modeling, and layout.
• Leverage Flexcompute’s GPU-accelerated Tidy3D multi-physics solvers (tackling optical, RF, charge, and thermal physics) to build fabrication-aware simulation pipelines.

Benefits

• A front-row seat at the intersection of AI and photonics, two of the fastest-moving fields in tech
• The chance to shape how an entire generation of engineers learns to work with AI-driven simulation
• A collaborative, technically deep team that values curiosity and initiative
• Competitive compensation with equity of a fast-growing startup.
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance.
• 401(k) Contribution.
• Gym allowance.
• Friendly, thoughtful, and intelligent coworkers.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior